Island Classic 2018

Davo Johnson on International Challenge Pole

Images by TBG

Great track conditions greeted competitors at Phillip Island today ahead of much warmer conditions that are forecast for the remainder of the Australia Day long weekend.

The packed schedule of events and hundreds of competitors across dozens of classes means that things are busy all day at the picturesque seaside circuit.

Times today are an early indication as to the potential of some of the newcomers to the event as many of them are only now getting accustomed to the machines and the tyres they are riding this weekend. Thus despite final qualifying now being done and dusted, there is still much more potential to be realised from riders such as Troy Corser, Colin Edwards and Dan Linfoot.

Jeremy McWilliams is now a veteran of the event with the Roger Winfield prepared machines and held provisional pole for much of the final qualifying this afternoon but David Johnson tipped the Northern Irishman off pole in the dying seconds with a 1m37.352 on an XR69 Suzuki.

Paul Byrne also showed his hand with considerable pace to qualifying third quickest on a McIntosh Suzuki ahead of Glen Richards on a Harris framed Yamaha.

Colin Edwards was the quickest rider for Team USA by a slender one-thousandth of a second over countryman Jason Pridmore.

Team Honda UK British Superbike regular Dan Linfoot was eighth quickest ahead of Road Race legend Michael Rutter while Beau Beaton rounded out the top ten aboard the delectable Irving Vincent.

Jake Zemke qualified 11th ahead of Troy Corser with the Katana pairing of Steve Martin and Shawn Giles next best ahead of Lee Johnston. There is still plenty of speed to be realised from that group as they will get appreciably faster as the weekend progresses.

The full entry list and race schedule can be found further down the page.

International Challenge Qualifying

1. David Johnson – XR69 Suzuki – 1m37.352
2. Jeremy McWilliams – Harris Yamaha – 1m37.642
3. Paul Byrne – McIntosh Suzuki – 1m37.892
4. Glen Richards – Harris Yamaha – 1m38.139
5. Peter Hickman – Harris Yamaha – 1m38.188
6. Colin Edwards – XR69 Yamaha – 1m38.423
7. Jason Pridmore – FJ Yamaha – 1m38.424
8. Dan Linfoot – Harris Honda – 1m38.569
9. Michael Rutter – Harris Yamaha – 1m38.712
10. Beau Beaton – Irving Vincent – 1m38.827
11. Jake Zemke – Yamaha – 1m38.924
12. Troy Corser – Harris Honda – 1m39.237
13. Steve Martin – Suzuki Katana – 1m39.565
14. Shawn Giles – Suzuki Katana – 1m39.713
15. Lee Johnston – Harris Yamaha – 1m40.620
16. Craig Ditchburn – TZ750 Yamaha – 1m41.421
17. Cam Donad – Irving Vincent – 1m42.871
18. Ken Watson – TZ750 Yamaha – 1m44.388
19. Scott Webster – Harris Suzuki – 1m44.639
20. Damien Kavney – XR69 Suzuki – 1m45.004
21. Glenn Hindle – XR69 Suzuki – 1m45.394
22. Michael Neeves – Harris Suzuki – 1m45.676
23. Dean Oughtred – GSX1100 Suzuki – 1m45.766
24. Dave Crussell – TZ Yamaha – 1m46.438
25. Brendan Wilson – XR69 Harris – 1m46.827

 

 

 

5pm Finish – * Points awarded toward the Phil Irving Perpetual trophy

 

5pm Finish – * Points awarded toward the Phil Irving Perpetual trophy

 

5pm Finish – * Points awarded toward the Phil Irving Perpetual trophy